Game apparatus.



P. X. KENNEDY. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 1a, 1913.`

1,087,587, Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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A guna/11601'. i f 'T5- 7 azzcesZ/vezzney' F. X. KENNEDY.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED H1B. 1a, 191s.

1,087,587, Patented Feb. 41'7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FRANCES X. KENNEDY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME' APPARATUS.

Specicationrof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17', 1914.

Application filed =February 18, 1913. Serial No. 749,125.

To aZZ 107mm, t may concern Be it known that I, FRANCES X. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented u jected, and against which the ball is batted and in accordance with the part of the board struck by the ball, a baseball play is to be recorde i A further object is to provide an improved device of this kind which is adapted to be folded into relatively small space, and act as an inclosure for the separable parts of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of this character which is provided with an improved arrangement of nets which prevents the ball from escape at the sides of the apparatus, and compels the ball to fall upon an inclined platform which directs the same through an opening in the rear of the apparatus.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. v

Inthe accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section through the center of one of the game counters, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on an enlarged scale through the ball outlet 6 in the base member of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a. view in vertical longitudinal section through the center of the apparatus.

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on an enlarged scale through one of the dowel pins connecting the upper frame with the game board. Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale and in elevation taken at the rear of the game board illustrating one of the slides. Fig. 7 is a view in section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 illustrates in elevation a bat and ball which may be used in playing the game.

My improved game apparatus comprises two main parts, namely, a vbase member 1 and a game board 2. The base 1 comprises a rectangular frame 3 preferably of wood and of the desired depth to form an inclosure as will be hereinafterexplained.

The sides and one end of frame' areprof vided with grooves 4 -to receive an inclined platform 5. This platform 5 is preferably of cardboard, and the grooves are so arlranged that this platform -slopes toward one far corner of the base to direct balls falling on the platform through an outletl 6. yThis platform is appreciably below the upper edge of the frame, so that a wall is provided around the platform to prevent the ball rolling over the edge. A board 7 is secured to the lower grooved edge of the frame 3 to .give to the same, a box-like appearance. The gaine board 2 is also provided'with a rectangular frame S which is connected to Aframe 3 by hinges 9, so that the game board may be swung either to a vertical position or to a horizontal position.

The frame of this game board is provided with VVgrooves to receive 'the edges of a board 10, lwhiclrI shall refer to as the field as it contains the representation of a baseball diamond, and may be ornamented Vin nany 'desired manner to represent a baseball field.

A backing board 1l is also secured to the frame 8, so that when this frame is swung dowvupon frame 3, the structure will have the appearance of a box or 'inclosure The side members of frame 8, adjacent their free ends, are connted to the side members\of frame 3 adjacentithe free ends of the latterby means of hinged elbow braces 12, so .that when the two members of these two braces 12 .are in'alinement, the game board is properly held in relation to the base, but said braces may be hinged to permit the game board 2 to be swung down upon the base 1 as will be readily understood.

Triangular sect-ions of flexible netting 13 lill in the spaces between the base 1, game board 2 and braces 12, and are secured to all of the said parts in anydesired manner.

A separable frame 14 of general oblong shape is supported on the upper edge of game board 2, and is preferably provided with dowel pins 15 which are positioned in holes 16 iu the upper memberof the game one marked Home board frame, and held thereby against longitudinal movement. This frame 14 is lled by a iexible netting 17 and supported in the said netting 17 are two game counters 18,

and the other .Visitors 7 to indicate the two players of the game. These. game counters comprise fixed disks 19 each having an opening 20 therein through which numerals on a rotary disk 21 may be observed.

The disk 21 is supported on a journal 22 mounted in fixed disk 2G, and having a knob 23 thereon toturn the same. The end members of frame 14 are provided with eyes 24 in which the hooked ends 25 of wire iframes 26 are secured, yet positioned soas to permit the wire viframes lto be swung. rlhese wire frames inclose exible nettings 27, and at their lower ends are provided with projecting ngers 28 which project through eyes 29 on braces 12, and hold the nettings 27 in the position indicated in Fig. 1

It will thus be'noted that the game board 2 is provided at both sides, and at-its top with a section/.of flexible netting, so that when a ball strikes the game board or above the game board, it will not be lost, but will fall onto the platform 5.

They iield 10 constituting the ornamental part of the game board, is provided in the center of the representation of the diamond with an opening 30 registering with a similar opening 31 in backing board 11. Through these openings 30 and 81, the ball 32 is adapted to be projected across the platform 5, and in the direction of a player standing in front of the game board. This player with a bat indicated at 33 strikes the ball 32, and drives it against the field 10, and in accordance with the spot the ball strikes, a play is recorded. j

. .While l may, of course, use various means for projecting the ball 32 through the openings 30 and 31,1 have illustrated in dotted lines, a simple form of gun or projecting device 34 Jfor the purpose.

At the tour corners of the diamond, openings 35 are formed vwhich are preiferaloly rectangular and are labeled Huma 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively. Back ot these openings, slides 36 are provided, and move in guides 37. These slides have operating rods 38 which project through the side members of frame 8 and are provided with handles 39 on their outer ends. Ilhe slides 36 are preferably colored, so that they may be readily seen when in position over the openings 35. llhen the slides 36 are erated to close the openings 85, they indicate the fact that a player is on that base. For instance, if tirst base and third base are occupied, "he slides 36 for these bases will be across the openings and by manipulating the slides, the imaginary positions ot base run ners can be seen at a glance. v

Locate? Throughout the field, openings 40 are provided labeled Out so that when a ball is batted through any of these openings, it records an out. A ball passing through these openings will strike the backing board 11, and bounce back through the opening and fall upon the platform 5.

The field 10 is also provided with spaces 41, 42, and 43 respectively under the captions 2 base hit, Home run and 3 base hit respectively, so that a ball striking in these spaces indicates that such plays are to be made.

ln playing the game, one, player stands back of the game board and projects the ball through the openings 30 and 31. The other player stands in front of the board with bat 33 in his hand, and as the .ball comes toward him, he strikesV the ball with the bat and drives it against the field 10. lf the ball passes through one of the openings 40, an out is recorded. lf it strikes in any of the other spaces, forth are recorded and infact the board may be so printed as to indicate practically all plays which are made upon a baseball field.

When the batter has three outs, he changes places with the player back of the board, so that the game may proceed, each player taking his turn unt-il he has three outs and so on throughout nine innings of the play.

The runs are kept track of by the counters 18, and While l have set forth a simple manner of playing the game, it is to be understood that the game may be utilized in various ways to carry out imaginary plays which might be made in the game.

The balls which hit the tield 10, fall upon platform 5, and by reason of the/incline of said platform, roll through the opening 6 to the player back of the board ready for use again.

Various slight changesv might be made lin the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence ll do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly tall within the spirit4 and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. gamel apparatus comprising a iield having the representation of a baseball diamond therein, and openings `in. the field at the angles oit the diamond, of guides on the back ot the field, and slides movable in said guides and adapted to be positioned over the openings, substantially as described.

2. A. game apparatus comprising a held having the representation o a baseball diamond therein, and openings in the `held at the angles ot the diamond, of guides on the back ot the held, slides movable in said hits, fouls, and so l lOO i and projecting out beyond the side edges of4 guides and adapted to be positioned over the openlngs", and rods secured to saidslides the field, substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus comprising a base, a game board connected to the base and vertically positioned, said game board having the represent-ation of a baseball diamond thereon withl openings at the angles of the diamond, channel guides secured to the back of the game board, slides mounted to move in said guides, and adapted to be positioned over said openings, rods secured to said guides and projecting beyond the side of the game board, handles on the ends of said rods, and means on' the guides limiting the movement of said slides in both direct-ions, substantially as described.

4. A game apparatus comprising a base, a game board hinged to the base, elbow braces connecting the game board and the base, and said base having an inclined plat-form thereon sloping to an outlet in the rear wall of the base, substantially as described.

5. A game apparatus comprising a base frame having an opening in its rear wall, a platform secured in the base frame and inclining toward said opening, a'game board frame hinged to the base frame, elbow braces connecting the game board and the base frame at both sidesA and 'flexible netting between the braces, the game board, and the base, substantially as described.

G. A. game apparatus comprising a base frame having an opening in its rear wall, a platform secured in the base frame and inclining toward said opening, a game board frame hinged to the base frame, elbow braces connecting the game board arid the base frame at both sides, and iexible netting between the braces, the game board, and the base, a removable frame on the upper end of the game board, a netting in said frame, game counters secured in the removable frame, wire frames connected to the ends of the removable frame, and said Wire frames adapted to be removably connected to the braces, substantially as described.

7. A game apparatus comprising a base,

:1 game board hinged to the base, elbow" braces connecting the game board and the base, said game board comprising a field having openings therein, a backing sheet secured to the game board `frame and covering all of said openings except one, and

longitudinally movable slides adapted to be moved to cover certain of said substantially as described.

8. A game apparatus comprising a base,- a game board hinged to the base, elbow braces connecting thegame board and the base, said base having an inclined platform \thereon sloping to an outlet in the rear wall of the base, saidgame board comprising a field having openings therein, a backing sheet secured to the game board frame and covering all of said openings except one, and longitudinally movable slides adapted to be moved to cover certain of said openings, substantially as described.

9. A game apparatus comprising a base frame having an opening in its rear Wa a platform secured in the base .frame and 1nclining toward said opening, a game board" openings,

frame hinged to the base frame, elbow braces connecting the gamel board andthe base frame at both sides, andexible net` ting between the braces, the game board, and the base, said game board comprising a eld having openings therein, a backing sheet secured to the game board yframe and covering all of said openings except one, and longitudinally movabl'egslides adapted to be moved to cover certain of said openings, substantially as described.

l0. A game apparatus comprising a base frame having an opening in its rear wall,

a platform secured ,in the base frame and inclining toward said opening, a game board frame hinged to the, base frame, elbow" braces connecting the game board and the I n base frame at both sides, iexible netting between the braces, the game board, and the base, a removable frame on the upper end of the game board, a netting in said frame, game counters secured to said -last-men- ,tioned net-ting, wire frames connected to the ends of the removable frame, and said wire frames adapted to be removably connected to the braces, said game board comprising a field having openings therein, a backing sheet secured to the game board frame and covering all of said openings except one, and longitudinally movable slides adapted to be moved. to cover cert-ain of said openings, substantially as described.

YIntestimony whereof I have signed `my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- FRANCES X. KENNEDY. Witnesses:

C. R. ZIEGLER, S. W. Fosrnn. 

